Since auditory processing issues can be common among some/many people with ADHD, I thought you might want to share the following just in case some of your followers may find it helpful:
What is Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)?
Auditory processing disorder (APD) means, you may be able to hear sounds with your ears, but the brain does not process the sounds well. It may be hard to understand what people say–even when you’re paying attention! APD is often under-diagnosed: only a professional audiologist who specializes in APD can give an official diagnosis for it. Even some audiologists do not have expertise with APD. APD is also sometimes called central auditory processing disorder (CAPD).
APD and ADHD
Auditory processing issues are more common among people with certain disabilities–including, but not limited to, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). No, that doesn’t mean that you necessarily have APD just because you have ADHD. But if you have had problems understanding people for all or most of your life–even though an audiologist might have said your audiogram looks fine–then it might be something to look into.
APD is more common among people with ADHD, dyslexia and other specific-area learning disabilities, autism, anxiety, ODD, SID, SPD, Tourette’s, OCD, developmental coordination disorder, depression, etc.
Resources for People with APD
- Here are some APD resources for people who have auditory processing issues, or who are trying to figure out if that might be them. This has web links to basic information about APD. It also provides a starting point for people to explore technologies to help them understand people on the phone, or find captioned movies at local theaters, etc.
- Here are some Tumblrs by people who have auditory processing issues! No, these aren’t all about APD, this is just a resource to help Tumblr users who have known or suspected auditory processing disorder find each other.
- Finding Other People with APD – find Facebook groups, a Listserver, and more blogs, Twitters, and other social media platforms. You do not need an official diagnosis to join a group.
- Sometimes people with auditory processing issues decide they want to learn sign language. This list of sign language resources might be a helpful start.
- Know of more resources? Please submit more resources for people who may have auditory processing issues.
I’m a person with attention deficit disorder (diagnosed in my 20s, during my first semester in graduate school). I also have been deaf since birth–and only found out in my late 20s that I almost definitely have auditory processing disorder, which means that even the things I *can* hear are not as clear as they could be. I’m now 46.